Mining machine



Spt. 6, 1932 M. P. HOLMES 1,876,517

MINING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1930 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 onn s r. -now/ ns or" cLAnni/tonr, new HAMPSHIRE. ASSIGNQR* o sULLivAn mecnmn w coMrAnY, n conronn'rioiv or MASSACHUSETTS PATENT QFFICE MIXING MACHINE Th s inventionrelates to mini g m ch ne and more particularly to improvements in he guid ng means-for the. flexib e f ed ng mea-nSOfa cOal mining machine. of the flex-. iblyfed type,

An object-of this invention is to provide. an improved; guiding means for the flexible feeding means. of a coal mining machine. Another object is to provide an improved adjustableinountingstructure for the guiding- A further j t0v Provide an improved; arrangement of he g i g means on thehmachineiwhereby the flexible feeding elements-may be: guided in an improved manner relative to the. machine feed.- ingjmembers. Still another object is to provide-improvedguiding meanswhereby a flexible feeding element may-be extended in a plurality of directions fromithefeeding. mem+ hereon the;.machi-ne.' Anotherobject isto provide an improvedv pivotal mounting for a guide sheave. A Theseandother-QbjectS Wi l,

however, hereinafter-more fully appear.

' In the accompanying drawing there is sh'ownfor purposes-ofxillustration one-form which. the invention may assume in practice. In'this drawing-s I Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coalmining machine equipped with the illustrative embodiment of the-improved guiding means.

- Fig. '2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of'the machine showniin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an endel-evational'view of themachine shown. in Fig. 1 Withthe swingable side guides in a 'difi'erentposition, parts of theimproved'guiding means being shown in section to illustrate structural details.

' Fig.-4= is-a vertical sectional View taken substantiallyonline of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on: line 5+5 of Fig. .3,

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken on-line 6;.6 ofiFig.-3 with-the outer guide support in its. upper position.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken. on line 7--7 of Fig. 4;

In this illustrative embodiment of the in.- vention the. improved guiding means are shownmounted-"on a mining'machi-ne of the flexiblyfed, room and pillar itype although it is evident that the same may be embodied in machines of various other types. The mining machine generally designated 1, whichimay be of the same general type as that disclosed in my copending application Ser. NO. 367,895, filed June 3, I929,consists' ofa generally rectangular machine frame 2 slidable on its bottom 3 over themine floor. Projecting forwardly lengthwise of the ma chine frame is a usual horizontal plane cutter bar 4. carrying on its margin a cutter bit carryingcutter chain 5.5 In the present construction, mounted on the opposite sides of the rear end of the machine frame for rota.- tion in opposite directions about alined trans verse axes are feed operating and controlling members 6 and Therein in the form ofcable Winding or haulage drums with which re-. spectively cooperate flexible feeding and controlling elements v8 and 9 hereinthe form of cables or ropes. V

Now referringto the improved guiding means for the feeding and controlling cables 8' and 9, it will be noted that mounted on the opposite sides of the forwardend of the machine frame are guide sheaves or-rolls l0 and 11 with which the feeding and Controlling cables Sand 9 are adapted to respectivelycooperate. ,Also arranged transversely of the machine frame at the rear end of the machine is a horizontal shaft or cylindrical bar 12 secured as by welding or otherwise to a projecting ledge 13 integral with the frame and projectingthrough openings v14L formed in vertical projections 15. The, projections 15 project rearwardly from theopposite sides ofthe machine frame and in thet presentinstance are formed integral with the latter, and the shaft orbar 12 is held rigidwith re.- spect to these projections as by welding. Thisv shaft or bar has projecting endsforming supports for'certain of; the guiding elements as hereinafter described. Pivotally mounted: at 16 on the ledge l3intelfmediate he sides f t e m chine; is a horizontall swingable arm l7 carrying a guide sheave or roll 18. Spaced stop pins 19'and 20- secured to the ledge, limit swinging movement of the arm 17 about its pivot inopposite directions,the arm being swingable to vpositign- 1 the guide sheave at opposite sides of the longitudinal vertical center of the machine. A support 21 having an opening 22 through which one end of the shaft or bar 12 projects is mounted on the shaft and has formed integral therewith a stub shaft 23 inclined slightly with respect to the vertical. J ournaled on the shaft 23 is a guide sheave or "1 91124; To prevent movement of the support 21 about the axis of the shaft 1-2 there is provided on the support a projecting lug 25 which engages a plane abutment surface 26 formed on the adjacent projection 15. Arranged adjacent the support 21 and pivotally mounted on the shaft 12 is a swingablc suport or swin arm 27 havin an inte ral stub.

b b b shaft 28 on which'a guide sheave orroll 29 is journaled. This support or swing arm is retained in position on the shaft by means of a cup-shaped retaining element 30 having a key portion 31 fitting a key way 32 traversing the end of the shaft. This key and keyway' prevent rotative movement of the retaining element with respect to the shaft. The re taining element is held in position on the end of the shaft by means of a screw 33 passing through an aperture in the retaining element and threadedly secured to the shaft. Formed centrally within the stub shaft 28 is a bore 34 in which is mounted a spring-pressed plunger 35 having a suitable handle 36. This plunger is engageable with either of two apertures 37, 38 formed in the retaining element 30 to lock the swing arm or sheave support 27 in either of two positions. In

assembling this improved guide structure the sheave support 21 is first slid in position on the projecting end of the shaft 12v with the abutment 25 engaging the abutment surface 26 on the projection 15. The swivel support or swing arm 27 is then slid in position on the sheave in abutting engagement with the support 21 and these parts are held in position by means of the retaining element 30 secured to the shaft by the screw 33. "When the plunger 35 is released from the retaining element 30 the sheave support or swing arm 27 is free to swing about the shaft to position the guide sheave 29 in planes adjacent the bottom or top of the feed drum 6. To limit the upward swinging movement of the swing arm there is provided a projecting lug 39 formed on the support 27 and engageable with a lug 40 formed on the support 21.

\ Downward swinging movement of the support 27 is limited by an abutment 41'formed on the machine frame. The swing arm is locked in position against either abutment by the locking plunger 35. Arranged at the opposite side of the machine is a support 43, similar to the support 21, and carrying a similar guide sheave 44, while pivotally. mounted on the projecting end of the shaft 12 is a swingable support or swing arm 45, similar to the swing arm 27 carrying a similar guide sheave 46. As the structure of the guiding arrangement at this side of the machine is identical to the guiding structure above described, further detailed description of the same is thought unnecessary other than to state that the swing arm 45 may be swung into either of two positions to locate the guide sheave 46 in planes adjacent the bottom or top of thecontrol drum 7 i In the use of the improved guiding means during the cutting operation of the machine with the parts as shown in Fig. 1, the feed cable 8 wound on the drum 6 is extended from the bottom of the drum forwardly along the side of the machine around the guide sheave 10 and laterally fromthe'machine to a suitable anchor. The controlling cable 9- wound on the control drum 7 is extended from the bottom of the drum rearwardly around the guide sheave 46, the swing arm or support 45 at that time being in its lowermost position and laterally from the ma--' chine to a suitable anchor located at the recedingside of the machine. As the feed drum is rotated by power the cable 8 .is wound in, thereby drawing'themachine bodily over the mine floor to feed the cutter bar- 4 transversely across the coal face. The control cable 9 and control drum 7 guide the machine during its transverse feeding movement and control the angle of the cutter-bar with respect to the coal face. When it is desired to haul the machine about the mine,

cable 8 passing aroundthe guide sheave'29 rearwardly of the machine to .a suitable anchor located adjacent the machine transport truck. Uponrotation of the drum 6 by power the cablel8 is wound in, drawing the machine bodily over the mine bottom. When the machine is cuttingin a direction opposite from that shown in Fig. 1, that is from left to right, the direction of rotation of the drums '6 and 8 is reversed and the.

cables rewound on their respective drums. At that time the guide sheave 29 is swung downwardly from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to'the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, while the guide sheave 46'is swung upwardly from the position shown in Figs. 1.

and 2 to the position shown in Fig; 3.

The cable 9 isthen extended from the bot tom of the drum 7 forwardly along the side of the machine around the guide sheave 11 and laterally from the machine to an anchor located at the rearof the machine' Upon rotation of the drums 6 and 7 the machine isthen drawn over the mine floor to effect the transverse feeding movement offthe cutter,

- of the machine. 4

element maybe extended from said guide sheave along the central vertical-plane of the machine. I

6. In a mining machine, the combination with a plurality of feed members'and flexible feeding elements cooperating respectively therewith, of guiding means for said flexible elements including a guide sheave adjustable into a plurality of positions on the machine,- said sheave when in one position adapted to be engaged by one flexible element and when in another position by said other flexible element.

7. In a mining machine, a plurality of feed members, and flexible feeding elemen s operating respectively therewith,of guiding means for said flexible elements including a swing arm carrying a guide sheave and swingable into a plurality of positions on the machine, said sheave in one position adapted tical center of the machine and carrying a guide sheave with which either flexible element is adapted to engage, said arm being swingable to position said guide sheave at either side of the longitudinal vertical center 9. In a mining machine having a forwardly projecting cutter'bar, the combination with a feed member and a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, of guiding meansfor said flexibleelement including a swing arm disposed adjacent said member and pivotally mounted on the machine at the rearvside of said feed member at the reare nd ofthe machine remote from said cutter bar and carrying a guidesheave, said swing arm being swingable vertically to'locate said guide sheavein a plurality of different elevated positionswherein it is adapted to be engaged by said flexible element to guide the latter ina plurality of directions from said feed member. a

10. In a mining machine, the combination with a plurallty of feed membersand flexible feeding elements. cooperating respectively therewith, of guidingimeansforsaid flexible elements including guide sheaves about which the flexible elements are. directly extended. from said feed members and arranged at the opposite rear corners of the machine, said a plurality of feed 11'. In a mining machine, the combinatiou with a feed member disposed on a horizontal axis and a receding flexible feeding element cooperating therewith and extending laterally from the rear end of the machine, of guidi'ng'means for said flexible elementincluding a swing arm pivoted on the machine to swing about an axis parallel with said feed member axis and Carrying a-guide sheave, said arm being swingable to position said sheave above and below a horizontal plane in which thefeed member axis lies whereby the flexible element may be guided from either the top or bottom of the feed member. l 12. In a mining machine, the combination with a plurality of feed members and flexible feeding elements cooperating respectively therewith, of guiding means for said'flexible elements including a horizontal guide sheave with which either of said flexible elements is adapted to engage and adjustable into one position for engagement by one flexible element and in another position for engagement by said other flexible element. i

' 134111 a iniiiingmachine, the combination with a feed member thereon and-a cooperating receding flexible element extending laterally from-the rear. end of the-machine, of guiding means for said flexible element includ a swing arm pivotally mounted ona horizontal at the rear corner of the machine and'carrying a'guide sheave, said guide sheave being swingableinto positions where by it may be engaged by said flexible element when the latter is extended in a plurality of directions from said feed member. T

14:. In a mining-machine, the combination with a feed member thereon and a vcooper-v ating receding flexible element extending laterally from the rear end of the machine, of guiding means for said flexible element including a swing arm pivotally mounted on a horizontal transversely extending axis at the rear corner'of the machine and carrying a. guide sheave, said guide sheave being swingable into positions whereby it maybe engaged by said flexible element when the latter'is ex tended in a plurality of directions from said feed member. r

,- 15. In amiiiing machine, the combination with a feed member ther on and a cooperating receding flexible element extending laterally from'therear end of the machine',%' of guiding means for said flexibleelement including a swing arm pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis'at the rear corner ofthemachine at the rearside of the feedmember and carrying a guide sheave, saidguide sheave being swingable into positions whereby it may guide sheaves being adjust-able into a plus rality of positions wherein they are adapted to be engaged bysaid flexible elements to guide the latter as they extend tangentially in o'neor another of a plurality of directions; 5- from said feed members. 1

be engagedby said flexible element when the later is extended in a plurality of directions from said feed member. 1 :16. In a mining machine, the combination with a feed member thereon rotatable on a" horizontal transversely extending'axis' and a cooperating receding flexible element extending laterally from the rear end of the machine, of guiding means for said flexible element including a swing arm disposed adj acent said feed member and pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis at the rear corner of the machine at the rear of said feed member and carrying a uide sheave, said guide I sheave being swinga le into positions where- 19 by it may be engaged by said flexible element when the latter is extended in a plurality of directions from said feed member.

17. In a mining machine, the combination with a machine frame having feed members thereon and flexible feeding elements coopcrating with said feed members, of guiding means for said flexible elements including a cylindrical member mounted transversely of the machine frame and having pivotally mounted at its ends guide members for said flexible elements.

18. In a mining machine, the combination with a machine frame having feed members thereon and flexible feeding elements cooperating with said feed members, of guiding means for said flexible elements including a cylindrical member mounted transversely of the machine frame and having pivotally mounted at its ends guide members for said flexible elements, and supplemental guide. members non-rotatably mounted on said cylindrical member adjacent said pivotally mounted members.

19. In a mining machine, the combination with a machine frame having feed members thereon and flexible feeding elements cooperating with said feed members, of guiding means for said flexible elements including a cylindrical member mounted transversely of the machine frame and having pivotally mounted at its ends guide members for said flexible elements, and supplemental guide members non-rotatably mounted on said cylindrical member adjacent said pivotally mounted members, said supplemental members having supporting means providing stops for limiting swinging movement of said pivoted guide members.

20. In a mining machine the combination with a feed member thereon and a cooperating flexible feeding element, of guiding means for said flexible element including a guide sheave, a support therefor, and a guide sheave pivotally mounted adjacent said support and swingable into diiferent positions whereby the flexible element may be extended from the feed member tangentially in a plurality of directions, said support providing stops for limiting swinging movement of said pivoted guide sheave.

21. In a mining machine, the combination with a machine frame having a feed member thereon and a flexible feeding element cooperating with said feed member, of guiding 65 meansfor said flexible element including a cylindrical meats; projecting man from said frame,aguide sheave support slidably mounted on said cylindrical member and having an abutment; thereon engaging the frame to prevent rotative movement of said'su-pport about said cylindrical'member, anda second guide sheave support pivotally mounted on said cylindrical member adjacent said first guide sheave support, said first guide withafeed member and aco-operatingflexi ble'eleinent, of guiding meansffor said flexible element including a swing arm disposed adjacent'sa'id feed member and carrying a guide sheave rotatable about an axis perpendicular to thear m pivot axis, said arm being swing able to locate said sheave adjacent said feed member whereby said sheave maybe engaged by said flexible element when the latter is extended in a plurality of directions from said feed member. I

23. In a miningmachine, the combination with'afeed member and a flexible feeding element cooperating" therewith, of guidin means for said flexible el ment including a swing am] pivotally mounted on: the machine atthe rear'side of said feed member and carrying a guide heave rotatable about 1 an axis perpendicular to the arm pivot axis, aid swing am being swingable to locatejsaid g idesheavein a plupalitypj? positions wherein itmay be engaged'by'said flexible element toguide the latter in a. pluralityof directions from said feed inember. I i Infa minin achine, the combination with a feed member disposed on a horizontal axis and a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, of guiding means for said flexible element including a swing arm pivoted on the machine to swing about an axis parallel with said feed member axis and car- .I'ying a guide sheave rotatable aboutan axis perpendicular to the arm'pivot axis, said arm being swingable to position said sheave above and below a horizontal plane in which the feed member axis lies whereby the flexible element may be guided from either the top or bottom of the feed member.

25. In a mining machine, the combination ids with a feed member thereon and a cooperating flexible element, of guiding means for said flexible element including a swing arm pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis at the rear corner of the machine and carrying a guide sheave rotatable about an axis at right angles to the arm pivot axis, said guide sheave being swingable into positions whereby it may be engaged by said flexible element when the latter is extended in a plurality of directions from said feed member.

26. In a mining machine, the combination ing "flexible element, of guiding means for said flexible element including a swing arm pivotally mounted on a horizontal transversely extending axis at the rear corner of the machine and carrying a guide sheave rotatable about an axis at right angles to the arm I pivot axis, said guide sheave being swingable into positions whereby it may be engag ed by said flexible element when the latter is extended in aplurality of directions from said feed member.

27. In a mining machine, the combination with a' feed member thereon and a cooperating flexible element,of guiding means for said ible feeding element, of guiding means for said flexible element including a swing arm pivotally mounted at the rear of said feeding member at the rear end of the machine and carrying a guide sheave rotatable about an axis at right angles "to the arm pivot axis, said arm being swingable to locate said sheave in difl'erent'elevated positions whereby it may be engaged'by sai'dfiexible' element when the latter is extended in'a plurality of directions from said feed member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. MORRIS P. HOLMES. 

